Dmitry Likhachov

Dmitry Sergeyevich Likhachov (Russian: Дми́трий Серге́евич Лихачёв, also Dmitri Likhachev or Likhachyov; 28 November [O.S. 15 November] 1906 in St. Petersburg – 30 September 1999 in St. Petersburg) was an outstanding Soviet Russian scholar who was considered the world's foremost expert in Old Russian language and literature. He has been revered as "the last of old St Petersburgers", "a guardian of national culture", and "Russia's conscience".

Life and career

Dmitry Likhachyov's personality is symbolic of Russian culture of the 20th century. He was an intellectual who survived a Soviet labor camp, one of Russia's most outstanding scientists, and a notable public figure who managed to preserve his moral values and strength of mind throughout his life.

Dmitry Likhachyov was born in Saint Petersburg. From his early childhood he had a passion for literature, even though his parents did not approve of this interest.

In 1923, at only 16 years old, Likhachyov entered the Department of Linguistics and Literature of Leningrad State University. He attended the Roman-Germanic and Slavic-Russian sections at the same time, undertaking two diplomas. At the university the young Likhachyov met many outstanding scientists and developed his own way of thinking. In 1928, at the end of his studies, Likhachyov was arrested and accused of being a member of the students' club the "Cosmic Academy of Science", which was simply a playful name for a group of like-minded youths. Shortly before his arrest, Dmitry Likhachyov had presented a short report, in which, either jokingly or seriously, he claimed that the new spelling rules of 1918 were "demonic" and worse than the old ones. This document provided proof of his "counter-revolutionary" ideas. After nine months in jail, the young scientist was unlawfully exiled without trial and spent five years in the USSR's largest labor camp, situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea.

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